Alarain stayed in her hiding spot for some time. After realizing that so many of her friends would be leaving, she had cried herself to sleep in that bush and had only woken sometime after sunset. The woman was still in her ranger garb, for she had not changed after her sword fighting lesson with Aragorn. Alarain was thankful that her clothes kept her well concealed. She sat in the dirt with her back resting on the side of the balcony and picked leaves into small pieces, for it was the only thing she felt like doing. A couple of times, she had heard voices calling her name, no doubt wondering where she was, but had kept silent.
Footsteps on the balcony made her pause in her leaf picking, and she stayed quiet, hoping it was just an elf passing by. The footsteps came to the edge and she looked up. Aragorn stood looking down at her, before he silently slipped into the undergrowth at her side.
He watched her for a while before speaking quietly. "Everyone is looking for you." he remarked.
Alarain didn't respond.
The ranger regarded her tear-stained cheeks with confusion. "How long have you been hiding here?" he asked, obviously wondering if she had heard the council.
"A while." she sniffed.
Nodding, he realized that she had seen the entire thing. She tried to resume her leaf picking, but he interrupted by pulling her into a hug. She was surprised, but did not pull away. He was warm, and listening to his heartbeat, she began to feel sleepy.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." he said, speaking of the Ring.
"I understand Aragorn. It's quite a big secret. You can't just go telling anyone." she said into his chest.
He was silent for while. "You aren't just anyone though." he said quietly. "You're a good friend whom I trust and I should have told you."
They quieted again, and when the voices of people searching for Alarain came to their ears, Aragorn didn't give her away.
Alarain suddenly remembered what she heard about him and sat up from his embrace. She stared him down angrily, and he looked startled. "What did I do?" he asked, worry showing on his face.
"You're a king?" she asked, not expecting an answer.
He looked uncomfortable. "No. I'm not."
"But you are the heir of Gondor's throne." she stated.
Not meeting her gaze, he looked out at the stars. "Yes." he answered quietly. The look on his face told her that he had thought on this topic quite a lot.
Watching the ranger, she saw that he did have an air of power hanging over him. His eyes showed wisdom and the way he held himself spoke of calm control. He turned his eyes on her and they shone with care.
"You look tired." he stated. "Come. I'll take you to your room."
He stood and helped her to her feet, then offered his arm. Alarain took it, and they walked through the trees and past houses in the cool night air.
"I wish I could come with you." she said suddenly.
Aragorn looked down at her with a worried glance. "That would not be a good idea." he said, hoping that she would not persist.
"Why not?" She looked up at him and narrowed her eyes.
"Because it will be very dangerous, as well as the small fact that you cannot yet properly protect yourself." He was obviously trying to scare her out of the idea. I did not, however, work.
"The hobbits are going. Can they properly protect themselves?"
Aragorn sighed with frustration. "No." he admitted.
"Exactly." she pointed out.
They got to her room and he faced her. "Lord Elrond would never allow it." he said.
Alarain laughed. "That's your excuse?"
The ranger glared. "He won't." he insisted.
"Well, I just might ask him to see if you're right." she said, sticking out her tongue before entering her room.
"Alarain..."
"Goodnight." she interrupted cheerfully, and closed the door before he could continue his protests.
Listening through the wood, she heard him sigh in defeat before slowly walking away.
Early the next morning, Alarain went in search of Lord Elrond. After looking in his study, the library, and the dining hall, she came across Arwen. She was sitting high up on a balcony, seemingly entranced by the book she had her nose in.
"Arwen?" Alarain called up to her.
She held up her finger, as if to say that she would not respond until finishing what she was reading. Alarain sighed exaggeratedly, and tapped her foot with pretend impatience. She grinned, knowing that Arwen's elf hearing allowed her to hear every tap. Finally, she put down her book with a roll of her eyes and strode over the the railing.
"Yes?" she said in her silliest impatient voice.
Alarain smiled up at her before asking where her father was.
"Father has locked himself in his quarters with Gandalf. I know not of what they're speaking of." she answered. "Why do you ask?"
Alarain deliberated, before deciding that she did not want to yell her wish out for everyone to hear, and ran into the building to make her way up to Arwen. She skipped through the halls and found Arwen waiting for her with an amused expression.
"Well..." she began. "Do you know about the council that was held yesterday?" she asked before anything else.
Arwen nodded. Of course she knows! She's Lord Elrond's daughter for crying out loud!
She continued. "Well, I sort of... saw the whole thing, and I thought that it might be a good idea for the fellowship to have a... female presence to keep them... sane."
The elf raised an eyebrow. "And I'm guessing that you wish to be that female presence?"
Alarain nodded sheepishly.
"And I'm guessing that you wish to ask my father about it?"
She nodded again. "Aragorn didn't think that it was a good idea, and he said that your father would never agree to it, but I want to hear that from him."
"I must say that I agree with Aragorn." Arwen sighed.
"What? I thought you would be on my side." she said, disappointed. "I'd hoped that you might help me convince Lord Elrond."
"Alarain, have you really thought about this? It will be one of the hardest and most dangerous journeys in history." she said, worried for her friend.
Alarain did think about it. "You're right. I know I shouldn't go, but..." she walked over to the edge and gazed up to the sky in thought. "So many of my friends are leaving and I don't know if I'll ever see them again."
Arwen stepped to her side and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. "My father and I will still be here. We are your friends Alarain."
"It's not only that." she spoke. "I don't feel right here. I know you wouldn't understand that because this is your home, but I think I... I wish to see Rohan again. I want to go home." she finished, turning to her friend.
"I do understand that you don't feel at home here. This is a place of elves, and you are a woman of Rohan. I will speak with my father about your return home." Arwen smiled, and left her Rohirrim friend in peace.
Not long after the elf had left, Alarain saw a tall, noble looking man wandering around below. She recognized him as the son of the Stewerd of Gondor. The one who had been so rude to Aragorn. Boromir, she thought with disgust. He must think he's so important! She continued to glare at him until he glanced up a saw her. He gave her a questioning look, and watched her for a moment. When she did not cease her glaring, he shook his head in confusion and strolled away. She laughed at her own behaviour before sauntering off in search of some hobbit fun.
That afternoon, she had played with Brenir and the hobbits before Aragorn had come to give her her sword fighting lesson. He had said nothing more of her wish to join the fellowship, so she told him of her change of heart. The ranger seemed pleased, but did not respond however, when she informed him of her plan to return to Rohan. He had then proceeded in working her to the brink of exhaustion, and she was relieved when he had finally allowed her to go and soak away her sweat in a soothing hot bath before dinner.
Legolas had come to escort her to the meal, and had asked her where she had been the night before. She made up a lie and told the elf that she had fallen asleep in the gardens.
Dinner was pleasant enough, though she could feel Boromir eying her every once in a while. Trying to ignore him, she asked Legolas to tell her of his home. Looking very excited at that, he had proceeded in describing his home in Mirkwood, or Greenwood as he called it, in a very detailed description. Alarain soon found herself so interested, that she forgot all about the proud Gondorian watching her.
When the meal was over, Arwen came and asked Alarain to join her. She then lead her through the many halls to her father's study.
Lord Elrond stood at his window with his back to the door. He turned when they entered, and smiled in greeting.
"Alarain, welcome. My daughter tells me that you wish to return to your home in Rohan."
She nodded. "Yes, I do. I've not seen it for quite a while and I miss it."
Elrond stroked his chin in thought. "She also tells me that prior to this wish, you wanted to join the fellowship."
Alarain's eyes widened. He knows that I know about the fellowship!
"Yes, I know." he said, and his eyes wandered to Arwen.
Alarain looked at her friend and narrowed her eyes. Arwen tried to look as innocent as possible, and she succeeded very well.
The elf lord continued. "Well it seems, Alarain, that you may have both wishes granted."
Her eyes darted back to him, confusion shining in them. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I've decided that you are to accompany the fellowship as far as Rohan. There you will part ways." he said with an amused expression as he witnessed Alarain's face light up.
"Really?" she asked, almost jumping with joy. "I mean... thank you milord." She tried to calm herself down as much as she could in front of the elf lord.
He laughed at her attempt. "I do however, wish for Aragorn to continue his lessons with you on sword combat. I also heard that Legolas will perhaps be teaching you archery."
"Of course. Thank you." she said, excitement boiling at the thought of seeing her home, as well as being with her friends for a while longer.
She was soon dismissed and skipped all the way to her room. That night, Alarain fell asleep with a smile on her lips. Her last thought before she did so, was this. I bet Aragorn will be grumpy when he hears about this!